TULANEGREENWAVE.COM - THE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY

Although she did not arrive at Tulane until the program was in its fifth season, head coach Betsy Anderson has been involved in numerous "firsts" for Green Wave soccer. Over the course of her four-year tenure, Anderson has led the Green Wave to the first two winning seasons in school history. She coached the first Green Wave player to earn first-team All-Conference USA honors. And she led the Wave to its first-ever berth in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals.

Now, heading into her fifth year as the program celebrates its 10th anniversary, Anderson has her troops primed to reach the next level and challenge for another first - Tulane's first Conference USA soccer title.

Since taking over the Green Wave program in 2001, Anderson started the transformation of a team that was near the bottom of the league standings into a perennial C-USA contender. In her first season at the helm, she led Tulane to the first winning season in school history. The squad's 9-8-0 record earned the Wave the No. 4 seed at the Conference USA Tournament, its highest league finish in school history. That season also saw the Wave rank as one of Conference USA's top scoring teams, finishing first or second in every major offensive category. Four different players earned all-conference recognition, including three who were named to the all-freshman team.

In her second season, the 2002 campaign, Anderson had a pair of players earn All C-USA honors, but it was the 1-1 tie with Cincinnati that turned out to be the highlight of the season. That draw against the defending C-USA champs snapped the Bearcats 15-match regular season winning streak against league foes.

However, those first two years were just a warm-up act compared to the 2003 season. Anderson led the Wave to a school-record 11 wins and the school's first-ever berth in the semifinals of the Conference USA Tournament. Under Anderson's direction, senior Asia Simons became the first Tulane player to garner first-team All-Conference USA honors and earn a spot on the C-USA All-Tournament team. Simons also picked up All-Central Region accolades from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Soccer Buzz magazine and was named to the national Team of the Week by both Soccer Buzz and Soccer America.

The Wave again ranked as one of the top offensive teams in the league, while also tying the school record for fewest goals allowed.

After graduating three seniors from the 2003 squad, the 2004 edition of the Green Wave featured 18 freshmen and sophomores who finished the season with a mark of 7-10-2. Of those seven victories, perhaps the most impressive was a 2-1 win on the road over Conference USA foe Cincinnati, Tulane's first win over the Bearcats.

Anderson came to Tulane after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, North Carolina State, where she assisted in all phases of the Wolfpack program, including on-field coaching, recruiting and scheduling. Anderson helped lead N.C. State to 24 wins, including its first 10-win season in four years. In 2000, her final season at N.C. State, the Wolfpack posted a 10-7-3 record and earned a No. 15 ranking in the national polls.

Prior to joining the staff at N.C. State, Anderson spent three seasons at American University in Washington, D.C. She started her tenure as a graduate assistant in 1995. After earning her master's degree in 1997, she was promoted to a full-time assistant, where she was responsible for training players in both the tactical and technical aspects of the game as well as recruiting and scheduling.

In addition to coaching in the college ranks, Anderson has an array of experience coaching in the Olympic Development (O.D.P.) and club ranks.

She has served as a staff coach for Region III since 2002, identifying the top players in the south region. From 1995 until 1998, Anderson served as a head coach in the Maryland ODP, while during her playing days she assisted with the North Carolina ODP program.

As a player, Anderson ranked among the ACC's elite. She was a four-year starter at N.C. State (1991-94), helping the team to three NCAA Tournament berths, including a quarterfinals appearance in 1991. She was named co-captain as a senior after having been the team's Freshman of the Year and a finalist for ACC Freshman of the Year.

Anderson played one season for the Baltimore Lady Bays of the U.S.W.I.S.L. after graduating from N.C. State. In 1996, Anderson moved to the Maryland Pride, helping the team to the 1996 national championship. She also played for the Soccer Academy United club team from 1995-1998, where the team won the Women's Open Amateur National Championships in 1996 and 1997.

Anderson also played for the Raleigh Wings (1998-2000), helping lead the squad to national titles in 1998 and 1999.

Anderson holds an Advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and an "A" license from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). While receiving her coaching licenses, Anderson earned the Bob McNulty Award of Excellence from the USSF.

She earned her bachelor's degree in communication from N.C. State in 1995 and was considered by the Department of Communication as the Outstanding Graduate that year. She went on to receive a master's degree in teaching from American University in 1997.

A member of the NSCAA Central Region ranking committee, Anderson lives in St. Rose with her weimaraner, Nola, and is engaged to Tony Jacketti.

The mission of the Tulane University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to support the university's purpose of enriching the capacity to think, learn, act, and lead with integrity and wisdom. This is ensured by providing our student-athletes and staff with opportunities for competitive success and personal growth within the context of sportsmanship, teamwork, and integrity.